OCTOBER 1/TISHREI 16

Simchat Beit Hashoevah (Rejoicing at the Place of the Water Drawing)

Based on Isaiah’s promise “With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation” (12:3), a mass celebration with Sages juggling lit torches, Levites singing songs, and the water libation ceremony began at the end of the first day of Sukkot and took place every night except Shabbat. The Talmud remarked:

“One who had never witnessed the Rejoicing at the Place of the Water Drawing had never seen true joy in his life.” (Ta’anit 3a)